The Challenge of Politics

How best to incorporate and tie together the philosophy, science, policies, subfields, and scholarly debates that constitute what we call "politics"? Challenge's unique normative approach, which emphasizes politics as a humanizing endeavor that relies on values and judgment, gives purpose and direction to how students think about political science. The authors relate insights of classic political thinkers both to their modern counterparts and to the political dynamics of American, comparative, and international affairs. With its theme of politics as a scientific study, Challenge allows students to explore the impact of philosophy and ideology, to recognize major forms of government, to evaluate empirical findings, and to understand how policy issues directly affect people's lives. NOTABLE REVISIONS INCLUDE: / The consolidation of chapters 3 and 4 to streamline discussion of the discipline's main components; / new "key questions" at the start of each chapter to help students grasp important concepts as they read. THOROUGH UPDATING INCLUDES DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF: / new developments in U.S. politics, from the election of Barack Obama and the appointment of Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor to the decision to close Guantanamo; / the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; / the continued expansion of the European Union; / the growing violence and instability in Pakistan; / the phenomenon of "failed states"; / progress made toward the UN's Millennium Development Goals; and, / the global recession that began in 2008.